Roy Edward Disney dies at 79; nephew of Walt helped revive animationRoy Edward Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney whose commitment to his uncle's creative spirit prompted him to mount revolts that led to the unseating of two of the company's chief executives and a revival of the studio's legendary animation unit, died today. He was 79.

Disney, who had been battling stomach cancer, died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, according to Clifford A. Miller, a spokesman for Disney's company Shamrock Holdings.

Disney toiled for years in the shadow of his famous uncle and his father, Roy O. Disney, who behind the scenes ran the business side of the Walt Disney Co. for his brother. But the quiet man in the cardigan sweater would emerge as a forceful protector of family traditions.

"People always underestimated Roy," said Peter Schneider, the former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation. "You underestimate Roy at your peril, as many people have learned..."

Well, that sucks. He was the last with that name to be actively involved in the Hollywood side of the family business. One of Walt's daughters, Diane Disney Miller, is still alive, but, as I understand it, she has no interest in the Hollywood side of the family business. Her present interest is in the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, which opened this year. While I have not visited the museum, if you want to know anything about the Disney family or Disney animation, outside of the Disney archives, this is suppose to be the place to visit.